Consumer Protection
Within the EU, Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council applies (as amended by (EU)2023/2673, (EU)2024/825). The Directive is based on maximum harmonization (uniform rules for the entire EU) with several significant exceptions that maintain a high level of consumer protection in countries where such protection would be reduced by the introduction of common rules.
Damage caused by a product defect is currently addressed in the Czech Republic by the Civil Code, No. 89/2012 Coll. , specifically Sections 2939 through 2943 (amended by Act No. 123/2024 Coll. , effective January 1, 2025).
Market surveillance in the Czech Republic is governed by Act No. 634/1992 Coll., on Consumer Protection (as amended by Act No. 387/2024 Coll.) and Act No. 64/1986 Coll., on the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (as amended).
Amendments to the Consumer Protection Act by other laws:
Act No.387/2024 Coll. incorporates the General Product Safety Regulation into the Consumer Protection Act; a new provision allows supervisory authorities to use a cover identity when supervising compliance with the obligations set forth in the Consumer Protection Act. This authority is necessary, particularly with regard to inspections conducted in the online space.
Act No. 374/2022 Coll. establishes new rules effective January 6, 2023; the most important changes (contracts concluded over the phone, door-to-door sales contracts, discount promotions, complaints, online shopping, delivery deadlines, and instructions for use) are detailed on the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s website HERE.
Amendment No. 238/2020 Coll. regulates cross-border cooperation among supervisory authorities of Member States in the area of consumer protection, as well as requirements for the minimum powers of supervisory authorities and the implementation of joint supervisory actions.
Act No. 264/2017 Coll. transfers the provision regarding the seller’s obligation to use measuring instruments during sales from the Act on the Czech Trade Inspection Authority to the Consumer Protection Act.
Consumers and Guidelines
CEN-CENELEC Guideline 11 (Czech version, 2012/10) Product Information for Consumers – Guidelines for Standards Developers contains basic information regarding product safety.Amendments to the Consumer Protection Act by other laws:
Act No.387/2024 Coll. incorporates the General Product Safety Regulation into the Consumer Protection Act; a new provision allows supervisory authorities to use a cover identity when supervising compliance with the obligations set forth in the Consumer Protection Act. This authority is necessary, particularly with regard to inspections conducted in the online space.
Act No. 374/2022 Coll. establishes new rules effective January 6, 2023; the most important changes (contracts concluded over the phone, door-to-door sales contracts, discount promotions, complaints, online shopping, delivery deadlines, and instructions for use) are detailed on the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s website HERE.
Amendment No. 238/2020 Coll. regulates cross-border cooperation among supervisory authorities of Member States in the area of consumer protection, as well as requirements for the minimum powers of supervisory authorities and the implementation of joint supervisory actions.
Act No. 264/2017 Coll. transfers the provision regarding the seller’s obligation to use measuring instruments during sales from the Act on the Czech Trade Inspection Authority to the Consumer Protection Act.
Consumers and Guidelines
GUIDELINE CEN 15 Guidelines for the Development of Standards for Services (Czech version, 2012/02) contains information regarding standards for service providers, including links to management system standards; Annex A contains a schematic model of the service life cycle.
In the Slovak Republic, the legal framework for consumer protection in relation to manufacturers, importers, and distributors, as well as the role of public administration bodies, is governed by the new Act No. 108/2024 Coll. on Consumer Protection and on Amendments to Certain Acts, which on July 1, 2024, repealed and replaced Act No. 250/2007 Coll. (current version).
Further information:
https://www.top-normy.cz/index.phpANEC: The European consumer voice in standardization
